To update your robotic/virtual fiction may I respectfully recommend Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" (Penguin, 1993, first published in USA, Bantam Books 1992)? Health warning: There is a serious risk of becoming a Stephenson addict if you read it and especially once you've rad a couple more of his.
Having been involved in ICT for 12 years or so up to my recent retirement I too have shunned direct high technology investments and for similar reasons. But as you so rightly say, robotics are now rapidly becoming mainstream and some players may have actually carved a robust, lasting position.
Time for me to get reading. Many thanks for the heads up.
